Garuda and privatization

The editorial on the privatization of Garuda Airlines which appeared in The Jakarta Post on Thursday, Dec. 8, 1994, certainly points to a number of constraints that Garuda Indonesia faces in meeting international conditions, such as the layers of bureaucratic procedures. Another would relate to the problems of introducing new aircraft, particularly on the European Asian route. However, the lack of a competitive edge suggested as a result of inadequate human resources is both unfair and inaccurate.

On the contrary, it is the human resources of Garuda Indonesia, in spite of institutional constraints mentioned, that has enabled the Airline to compete on international routes. Unfortunately this is often overloaded by critics who continue to fly other airlines other than the national carrier, and are therefore not aware of the progress achieved. As Garuda Indonesia continues to compete effectively with foreign carriers, it's human resources deserve recognition.

JOHN JOHNSON

Jakarta